Traffic indicator



Patented May .29, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIc'E.-

JOHN E. LOCK, or LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, AssIGNOR 'ro` fU s BOBBIN a SHUTTLE OOM- PANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A VCORPORATION F RHODE ISLAND.

TRAFFIC INDICATOR.`

Application led September 7, 1927. Serial No. 217,921.

This invention relates to traffic indicators and has, for an object to provide an improved device which shall clearly indicate by a plurality of new and novel motions the intended direction of travel of a vehicle to which the indicator is attached.

A further object of the invention is to provide an indicator, preferably in the image of an officer having arms pivoted thereto with improved mechanism for raising one arm selectively, and at the same time to cause the head of the image to turn in the direction indicatedby the arm, thus indicating by two separate movements the` proposed direction of travel. Y

A furtherobject of the inventionis to provide an image representing a humanibe ing mounted rigidly and in a stationary position upon the cowl directly in front of the driver', having improved moving parts which are manually controlled by the driver from his driving position for raising either arm independently to yindicating position and to turn the head of the image in the same direction. v

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises certain novel parts, elements, units, combinations. interactions, mechanical movements and functions, as disclosed in the drawings, together with `mechanical and functional equivalents thereof as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view of the invention in operative position illustrated upon a con` ventional vehicle shown in dotted lines.

Figure 1a is the link action forming a part of the manual power transmission.

Figure 2 is a view of the image in front elevation with both arms lowered torunning position. y

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the head of the image as indicated by line 3-3 of Figure 2. y

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the image showing the mechanism for independently.operating the arms and head.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail perspective of the inner end of the arm lever.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the several operating joints.y

Like characters of reference indicate cor responding parts throughout the several forms the subject matter of this applica-v tion comprises a figure of any contour but preferably caricaturing `an oflicer. The figure is indicated at any convenient or desirableplace upon the vehicle and under ordinary conditions in the type of ear ordinarily known as pleasure vehicle, two of such figures will be employed, one at the rear and one at or near the front. Preferably, the image in front will be located upon the cowl directly infront of the driver` and may conveniently he installed by the removal of a dash light with which practically allmodern vehicles arev equipped. The present invention, however',` is not limited to the use of two of such images or indicators and the use ofxone in front or one in the rear is fully within the Scope of the present in# vention. y

The image is mounted 4in any approved `manner as by the employment of a base 11 which is rigidly secured to any convenient 'part of thevehiele with ashaft 12 assuming anormally vertical position extending upwardly through the image with a head 13 :rigidly andpermanently secured to the up per end of said shaft.

The shaft 12 is oscillated by any approved type of mechanism, here shown as a handle or lever 14 extending through the instrument but adjacent to the steering wheel, in-

dicated in dotted lines at 15. The handle 14 is rigidly connected with a shaft 16 which, for the purpose -of forming a bearing, also extends through the dash 17. The shaft 16 is provided with a lever arm 18 pivotally connected with a. link 19. The link 1,9 extends to and is pivotally connected with a lever arm 20 which is in turn rigidly and permanently connected with the shaft 21, which extends longitudinally of the ear throughout a greater or lesser portion of the length, the length of the shaft 21 depending upon the build of the car.

The shaft 21 is provided with an arm 22 bifurcated as at 23 and engaging in such bifurcation a wrist pin 24, forming with the lever 25 a crank arm upon the shaft 12.

When images are used as indicators at both front and rear, the front indicator will be operated by a .crank arm 22 upon the ot' movement.

shaft 16 with an arm 25 similar to the arm 25 operating the rear indicator. v I

In both of the indicators, when two are employed, the vertical shaft 12 is provided within the interior of the image with a radially entendi-nig amr 26 which engages the bifurcatcd end 27 of a lever fulcrumed at 28..

i 'oy the fingers 29 and 30. The arms 3l and are respectively fulcrumed at 34 and 35 andv are so constructedl that the normal weight of said arms will cause'the varms to fall to rest position as indicated at Figure 2 and in one ositon at Figure 4. When, however, the s iaft 12 is rotated in either di rection, the lever will engage the o'll'set 33 to raise either one ot' the armsl or 32 upon their fulcrums, thus indicating a direction The raisiner ot the `arm is caused by the oscillation o? the shaft 12 to which the head 13 is rigidly secured,y Iso that, when either arm is raised to indicating position, the head 13 tends to turn in the lsame direction, ,so that the direction of travel is indicated not. only by the `extended arm of the image but by the direction in which the head is apparently looking. l

Itwill be yapparent, therefore, that the mere oscillation of the handle 14 by the operator of the vehicle will tend to raise an arm ot the image employed as an indicator or both of such images simultaneously when two images are employed and that the release of the handle 14 by reason of the weight of theA arms 2,1v andl 32als`o of: the weight of the handle 14, will permit both arms to fall to rest position as indicated at Figure 2. 4

ivha i claim eo lts-new a;

l. ,trailic indicator comprising an image ia'ving a head rotatably mounted, manuali; eansI foroscillatling the head from side to si e, arms fulcrunied upon the image, and means actuated bythe', manual` actuating means for raising one of the arms Ito correspond to the oscillation of the head.

, l2. A traffic indicator comprising an image having arms fulcrumedthereon and normally hanging to rest position adjacent the sides of the image, a shaft extending upwardly through the ima e, a head carried upon the upper end of t e shaft, means to oscillate the shafty and the head from side toI sideand means to raise one of the arms of the image corresponding to the direct-ion of oscillation of the head.

3. A traffic indicator comprising an image having arms fulcrumed. to opposite sides thereof and adapted by their vown weight to '.t'all to rest position adjacent the sides of the image, a shaft extending upwardly through the image, manual means for oscillating the shaft, means carried by the shaft for raising one of, the arms incident upon the oscillation of the shaft, and a head mounted upon the upper end of the shaft and upon the upper endI of the image analogizing a human face, the'oscillation of said shaft turning said head in the direction of the raised arm.

In testimony whereof I. ailxmy signature.

' JOHN LOCK.v 

